A country in the process of modernization
Much of the culture in Botswana has been built up over time through the habits and customs of the majority tribal group, the Tswana. Livestock is one of the identity values that characterizes the country and its people. An economic asset that makes Botswana an important and high quality exporter of beef to European countries. Minority tribal cultures have also managed to become an integral part of the dominant culture, as evidenced by the Bayei fishing methods now practiced and recognized by most Botswanans. In recent decades, Western culture has been creeping in on the more traditional customs and practices inherited from the tribal way of life. Television, the development of tourism, access to technology and consumer goods imported from South Africa are widening the gap between the different social classes. Westernization is affecting the urban areas, leaving behind traditional rituals, beliefs and skills in favour of a consumerist lifestyle. Aspects of culture derived from tribal beliefs are now in danger. However, access to technology has not only had negative effects, as many infrastructures have improved the quality of life of the inhabitants.
Education, a government priority
Since its independence in 1966 and the discovery of diamonds generating new sources of revenue for the state, the government has made major efforts to guarantee the right to education for all its citizens, devoting almost 10% of its public expenditure to national education. Since schooling is free, virtually all children aged seven and over attend elementary school. However, some of the costs inherent in schooling must still be borne by the family, especially for those living in small villages who have to relocate some of their members to the city with the children. At the end of elementary school, a selection process takes place with an exam, and only those with the highest marks go on to secondary school. School fees were introduced, along with a system of scholarships for the less well-off. For three years, pupils study at the community junior school, the equivalent of the French collège, and take another exam at the end of the course. The best performers can then go on to the senior secondary school, which corresponds to the French lycée, but only for two years. This is, of course, the "royal" route to university. Technical colleges, the equivalent of CAPs and other more technical courses, cater for the bulk of secondary school students, who will find here a more applied and professionally-oriented training. The brightest go on to study at the University of Botswana, based in Gaborone, or abroad on government or foreign scholarships, notably in the USA, England or South Africa. But unlike in many African countries, once they have completed their studies, Botswanans return home, often to set up their own businesses.
The place of women
In this traditionally patriarchal society, women's role was originally that of homemaker. They had few rights, and were under the orders of the head of the family. However, in this modernizing country, mores are tending to change, and it wasn't until 2004 that the law on marital authority was finally abolished. Later, in October 2012, another victory for women came when the Constitutional Court set a precedent by allowing women to inherit. Previously, according to a customary law enshrined in the Constitution, the men in a family had full inheritance rights on the death of a father or husband. But attitudes are gradually changing, as is the role of women in society. With higher school enrolment and literacy rates among women, Botswana is an exception in Africa. This is linked to the central role accorded to women in the management of the home and domestic affairs. Here, perhaps more than anywhere else in Africa, the proverb applies: "The man decides by day what the woman has suggested to him by night" In addition, parity in government and big business is gradually taking hold, and there are now a significant number of female ministers and directors. It is estimated that nearly 35% of businesses are run by women entrepreneurs, with government support. Moreover, to balance family and professional life, almost half of all women use contraceptives to control their fertility.
Marriage, a tradition in perdition
Traditionally, Tswana men were polygamous, with all family members living in the same compound. Today, this practice is falling into disuse and has been virtually replaced by monogamy. However, with the evolution of social mores, Botswanans are marrying less and less. The reason? The answer is that marriage is expensive! As a result, if people do get married, it's usually not before the age of thirty. Especially as Botswana's culture and mores accept relationships and even children outside marriage without much difficulty. Marriage is so expensive because the groom has to pay a dowry to his beloved's family. Traditionally, the dowry was paid in cows, but today it is often paid in pulas. To encourage marriage, the government has set a maximum dowry limit of BWP 12,000 (€900). Added to this dowry are the costs of the traditional ceremony, as well as the Western-style "white" ceremony so popular with young Botswana women today. It's a major expense that only a fraction of the population can afford.
The San, a discriminated people
Like many of the original peoples, the San had an unenviable fate. Their flexible and unimposing territoriality was quickly challenged by the arrival of farmers, first Bantu, then white from the 17th century onwards. As the other peoples expanded, the San were confined to the most hostile lands, uninhabitable for the others. In doing so, their fate was dramatic. Driven out of their territory where their precedence was largely ignored, San and Khoi groups tried to resist. Fighting guerrilla battles, armed with their poisoned arrows, they tried to counter the raids of the settlers who considered them as vermin. Many hunters were simply massacred, others were sent to prison. Children were often enslaved on farms and women could be raped or forced into prostitution. Moreover, in the colonized territories, hunting was forbidden to them under the pretext that the game belonged to the English crown. Soon the San, who no longer had a territory, were reduced to beggars and, with the help of alcohol, they lost all vestiges of social prestige and sank. Today, the daily life of a large part of the San population is very sad and their traditional way of life does not exist anymore. Very few San still live this way of life in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. In the cities like Ghanzi or in the relocation villages, many of them die slowly from alcoholism. Prostitution is not inexistent and integration into Botswana society is not easy. The San who wish to lead a modern life in Botswana can do so, although it is true that they leave with a definite handicap, given their general poverty. San who wish to live a more traditional lifestyle, often blending the benefits of modernity, can also do so by working on private concessions or in community areas. In addition, several pharmaceutical companies use and pay for San knowledge to develop new remedies: devil's claw for osteoarthritis, for example. Likewise, travellers' encounters with a San group involve income brought in by the visitor, which is redistributed within the group.
AIDS, a scourge for the country
In addition to education, building an efficient healthcare system was one of the government's major challenges at independence. As a result, a network of primary health care facilities was developed throughout the country, including hospitals, clinics, health posts and mobile points. In the public health system, primary care is even free for all Botswana citizens, providing access to health care for the most disadvantaged populations. However, in the late 1990s, the country was hit hard by the AIDS epidemic, with one of the highest infection rates in the world. Life expectancy dropped from 67 in 1991 to 40 in 2000, and Botswana plunged into one of the biggest health crises in its history. Faced with a national emergency, the government set up various programs to combat the spread of the epidemic. In 2002, Botswana became the first African country to distribute antiviral drugs free of charge to its citizens. Two years later, routine hospital screening was introduced, enabling the population to detect the disease as early as possible. Yet, with a prevalence rate of around 22% in 2016, the country is far from having put an end to the threat to public health posed by the AIDS epidemic. But the government's will is strong, and it is multiplying strategies, between prevention campaigns and generalized treatment for people living with HIV. Today, condoms are no longer a taboo accessory, and are even touted on billboards. Pharmacies vie with each other in choice and fancy models, nightclubs are equipped with ATMs, and in tourist offices and public toilets, they are distributed free of charge. What's more, since 2019, Botswana has extended free antiviral treatment to foreign residents. A decision welcomed by the UN, which sees in it the determination of a government to do everything in its power to fight HIV and put an end to the epidemic by 2030.
